Lifeboat-releasing device



Dec. 31, 1929. G. w. P. OVERMAN LIFEBOAT RELEASING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5. 1928 I I Dec. 31, 1929. G. w. P. OVERMAN 1,742,092

LIFEBOAT RELEASING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1928 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Fig-J7.

Patented Dec. 31, 19.29

JUHTE TATS GEORGE W. P. OVER-MAN, F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA LIFEBoA'r-nnLEAsINe nnvIcE Application filed'July 5, 1928. Serial No. 290,603

The invention relates to means for releas-j i 1o A further object of the invention is the provision of a device comprising a casing formed of spaced plates that are adapted to be secured to the stem or sternpost of a life boat and having a hook pivotally mounted in the casing to engage the hoisting and lowering cables and a gravity maintained trigger to hold the hook in engaging position and manually operated means for releasing the trig ger and thereby releasing the hook from engagement with the cable.

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a boat showing the life boat releasing devices attached thereto,

Figure 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of one of the devices with one of the plates removed and showing the device in holding poso sition,

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the device in a released position, 7

Figure l is an end view,

Figure 5 is a top plan view, and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 66 of Figure 2.

1n the drawings similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the handling of life boats from ships it is important to provide means that will securely hold the boat on the lowering lines until it reaches the water and then to quickly re lease the lines to prevent loss of the boat and its contents in the high seas that are usually running when it is necessary for emergency purposes to lower the boats. The invention shown in the drawings is designed to accomplish these objects and at the same time pro- -yids device that is extremely reasonable in cost of manufacture and that can be applied to boats already in use. To this end the invention comprises a casing formed of spaced plates 1 that are adapted to be secured to the stem and stern post A of a life boat designated B, said plates 1 being held together by means of rivets or other suitablei asteners 2 on which are spacing sleeves 3, 4: indicating securing means for securing the plates to the post A. Plates l are identical in outline and are provided with extensions 5 between which are pivoted an L-shaped, or pelicanhook, 6, by means of a pin or bolt 7 secured through one of the extremities of the hook and adapted to engage a ring, shackle or link C on the end of a hoisting and lowering cable D.

'The plates 1 are formed with recesses 8 under the extension 5jthat partly receives the 1 ring or other member G when engaged by the hook 6 as shown in Figure 2. To hold the hook 6 in engagement with the ring orother member C a trigger is provided that comprises a block 9 on which is secured aU-shapeol strap lOhaving the bight 11 spaced from the adjacent edge of the block 9 toform a loop 12 to receive the free end or bill of the hook 6 as shown in Figure 2 to hold the hook engaged'as stated, the block 9 and strap lOvare pivotally mounted between the plates 1 by means of the pin or bolt 13 that engages said members adjacent tothe loop 12 and adjacent to the edge 14 of the block 9, the block on the side of the pivot opposite to said part and the secured ends of the strap 10 providing a weighted portion that normally holds the trigger in the position shownin Figure 2. 15 indicates an arm extending downwardly from each block 9 to which is secured a length of chain or other flexible member lfithat is trained around a pulley 17 journaled in a recessed block 18 secured between the plates 1. Chams 16 have their tree ends connected by means of flexible rods or wires 19 with the opposite endsof the cross arm 20 of double bell cranklever 21. 22 indicates tubular guides for the rods or wires 19, and 23 a latch to engage the lever 21 and hold it from movement when the hooks 6 are in engaged positions.

In useit will be apparent the book 6 being engaged by the loop 12 of the trigger member will hold the hoisting line for the life boat securely until the hooks are released by swinging the arm of lever 21 upwardly from the position shown in Figure 1 thus pulling on the chains 16, and that the release of the hoisting cables will be instantaneous thus eliminating the danger of the boat being thrown against the ship by the action of the waves in rough water, as it will be readily apparent that it may be instantaneously released and pushed ofl from the-ship to obviate such danger.

It will also be apparent that because of the rounded and tapered portion 6 of the hook 6 and the rounded portion 11 of the strap 11 the trigger 9 will be actuated downwardly by pushing on the knee 6 of the hook 6 to seat the end thereof on the loop 12 to automatically latch it.

What is claimed is 1. A life boat releasing device, comprising a casing consisting of spaced plates adapted to be secured to an end post of a boat, an L-shaped hook pivoted at one of its extremities in said casing and adapted to engage a hoisting and lowering member, a trigger member for said hook including a .block, a U-shaped strap secured to said block and having its bight spaced from the block to provide a loop to engage the free end of the hook, said block and strap pivoted in said casing adjacent to said loop, the part of the block and strap on the other side of the pivot providing a weight to hold the loop in hook engaging position, and means to actuate the loop from engaging position.

2. A life boat releasing device, comprising a casing consisting of spaced plates adapted to be secured to an end post of a boat, a hook member pivotally mounted between said plates and adapted to engage a boat hoisting and lowering element, a block pivotally mounted between said plates, a U-shaped strap element secured to said block and having its bight spaced from the block to provide a loop to engage the hook and hold it in engaging position, the block being pivoted through said strap adjacent to said loop,

the part of the block and strap on the side of the pivot remote from the loop providing a weight to hold the loop in hook engaging position, a downwardly extending arm on said block, and means engaging said arms to actuate the block and releasethe loop from engaging position. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE 1V. P. OVERMAN. 

